Kick Off: Massive MLS clashes, US U-17 triumph & new stadium talk

A huge weekend of action is on the horizon with top dogs in the West, FC Dallas, hosting the defending champion LA Galaxy on Saturday (7:30 pm ET, NBCSN, live chat on MLSsoccer.com) and San Jose travelling to the resurgent Portland Timbers on Sunday. (10:30 pm ET, NBCSN, live chat on MLSsoccer.com) "The Scouting Report" breaks down LA’s chances in Dallas as the home side looks to stay ahead of the pack.

Richie Williams' Under-17 national team team is now just one win away from booking their spot at the U-17 World Cup in the UAE in the fall. The US youngsters defeated Guatemala 1-0 last night, to seal their place as group winners for a top seed in the quarters. Corey Baird scored the game-winner just before halftime and the US now face Honduras on Sunday (6 pm ET, Fox Soccer) to decide who will go to the World Cup.

Staying in USL Pro, Orlando City announced plans to move ahead with a new soccer specific stadium on Friday morning. "We want to have the stadium financing in place by June so we can move forward with the second half of the year," OC president Phil Rawlins told AM 740 The Game.

Kei Kamara’s Norwich City side travels to Arsenal on Saturday, (10 am ET, Fox Soccer) as the Sporting KC loan star hopes to steer the Canaries away from the EPL drop zone. Then it’s an FA Cup semifinal between Millwall and Wigan at noon ET on Fox Soccer Plus. Newcastle host Sunderland in a huge North East derby on Sunday (8:30 am ET, ESPN2) with both teams embroiled in the relegation battle and the FA Cup semifinal between Chelsea and Manchester City on Sunday (11 am ET, Fox Soccer) rounds off the weekend.

15. QUAKES MASCOT TAKES ONE FOR THE TEAM…

Finally ICYMI, here is a painful way to end today’s Kick Off, as San Jose’s mascot "Q" was humbled so cruelly in front of his adoring home crowd. Watch on squeamishly as UFC fighter Luke Rockhold smashes a PK into a "delicate region" of the Quakes mascot last Saturday. No doubt he’ll be wearing a cup this weekend…